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How do you transform a brand that's been part of American history for 125 years, without losing the DNA that made it legendary?

In this episode, Goodyear CEO and President Mark Stewart joins Jan Griffiths to share how he is breathing new life into one of the world's most iconic brands — and why the real transformation is not just about technology, but rather about leadership, culture, and people.

He reflects on his early days supervising third shifts in hot, unforgiving plants and how those moments shaped his belief that leadership isn't about barking orders—it's about building real accountability, setting clear targets, and creating an environment where people can do their best work without fear.

Inside Goodyear, the transformation touches everything: leadership behaviors, operational models, and even the story the brand tells the world. Mark talks about honoring Goodyear's pioneering legacy — like the iconic Goodyear Blimp, now celebrating 100 years — while recognizing that past success can breed conservatism if left unchecked.

At the core of all this change is a new way of thinking about partnerships. Mark discusses the shift from traditional supplier hierarchies to real, transparent collaborations — where information is shared, problems are solved together, and the success of one depends on the success of all.

Beyond strategy, Mark shows what leadership looks like at a human level. From walking factory floors to learn how tires are made firsthand to personally rallying 68,000 associates around a simple, bold vision — to be number one in tires and service — he demonstrates that leadership today isn't about commanding from the top. It's about committing yourself fully to the people you serve.

Mark shares glimpses of life outside the boardroom—from hiking with his Labradors in Akron's Metro Parks to binge-watching White Lotus to plotting a summer trip across Europe to see Robbie Williams live.

These moments aren't distractions from leadership; they're reminders that authenticity—showing up fully human—is part of what makes great leadership real.

Themes discussed in this episode:

Why legacy companies must unlearn traditional business practices to survive industry disruption
How EV tire technology and connected mobility are reshaping Goodyear’s product strategy
Revitalizing a legacy automotive brand: How Goodyear is transforming after 125 years
Building supplier collaboration models for the future of the automotive supply chain
Making accountability and measurable KPIs the foundation of leadership transformation
Embedding innovation across all departments, not just R&D, to stay competitive
Why reconnecting leadership with shop floor operations drives meaningful cultural change
How Goodyear is rallying 68,000 global employees around a bold new vision for growth

Featured guest: Mark Stewart

What he does: Mark is the Chief Executive Officer and President of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, joining the company and its Board of Directors in January 2024. Previously, he held leadership roles at Stellantis, Amazon, and ZF TRW Automotive, overseeing global operations, EV transformations, and advanced technological innovations. Known for championing diversity and economic equality, Mark has been recognized with awards such as the COO of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council. With a strong academic foundation in engineering and business, he has led initiatives across industries and geographies, earning a reputation as a transformative leader. Originally from Madison, Alabama, he is also a former board member of the Auto Alliance.

On Leadership: “I’m the same person day in and day out. What you see is what you get, right? And one of the things for me, I'm very much a participative leader, but very much about transparency, right? Overcommunication is my style, not just because I'm from the south and like to talk a lot, Jan, but it really is about us making sure that we've got very clear KPIs that we're marching to, that we're tracking ourselves to them, and holding ourselves accountable to them. And in the meantime, having a lot of fun with the people 'cause at the end of the day, it's all about our people.”

Mentioned in this episode:

Episode Highlights:

[02:29] Leading Loud and Clear: Clear goals, open communication, and a people-first spirit shape Mark Stewart’s leadership every step of the way.

[03:05] Breaking the Old Mold: Raised on command-and-control, Mark Stewart chose a different path: servant leadership and human connection.

[07:30] Legacy Isn’t Enough: Mark Stewart shares how Goodyear is preserving its iconic DNA while shedding old habits, speeding up its culture, and telling the world a new story.

[10:43] More Than a Donut: At Goodyear, innovation isn’t an R&D department—it’s a culture built into every tire, every breakthrough, and every bold step toward the future.

[14:08] Connecting 68,000 Strong: Mark Stewart shares how Goodyear is uniting a global workforce around a bold, focused vision: being number one in tires and service.

[17:35] The Leadership Trifecta: Mark Stewart shares the three leadership traits he believes every company needs to win: a clear purpose, real accountability, and radical transparency.

[20:08] Driving Innovation Together: Connected tires, predictive safety, and a service-first mindset: Mark Stewart explains how Goodyear’s new partnerships are reshaping the road ahead.

[24:25] Collaboration for Mutual Success: The future of supplier relationships isn’t about transactions—it’s about shared vision, transparency, and building breakthroughs together.

[26:26] Leading with 1,000%: Mark Stewart shares his personal commitment to Goodyear’s people: tackle every challenge, move fast, and build a legacy that lasts generations.

[27:50] Off the Clock: Mark Stewart opens up about his love for binge-worthy shows, hiking adventures, live music, and his mission to finally catch Robbie Williams live.

Top Quotes:

[04:19] Mark: “One of the first roles I took on was third shift supervision in a hot forging and valve and piston plant. And for me, it's really about servant leadership, it's about participative leadership, it's about getting the job done, right? And there's times when you have to command and control to get things done, but that should not be the norm, right? Because it really is about span of influence. It's about clear metrics and it's about getting things done together with the people. For me, that was always a recipe for success.”

[08:32] Mark: “Coming in here, what was important for me was to take those first two months within every bit of my power, filling my books up with learnings, with questions, understanding the culture, and observing the culture. Taking notes about, "Hey, this is a great practice. Hey, what's up with this one?" And revisiting that. It's an approach that I started actually, many moons ago when TRW and ZF merged together, and it's really served well for that.”

[09:38] Mark: “The legacy Litchfield left us in addition to protecting the allies in the war was as well to have an incredible icon that makes us still around the world in the top five brands that people know, right? And to have the honor and privilege to be able to lead Goodyear and to be able to make sure, you know, yep, we've got to transform, we need to do things faster, we need to be more speedy. Part of the legacy culture, right? You get more conservative over time. More, more, more of us are saying, "Hey, we've got incredible products. The last 10-15 years, we've been a little light on telling people that. We've been relying on the blimp and relying on our good slash great name of Goodyear." And so, we're reinventing ourselves in marketing, sharing the amazing things that the engineers and our folks in the plants are doing, right? It's a key part of that transformation.”

[13:45] Mark: “Mobility is still very important for us, and it’s what we're embedded in. But it really is about back to the basics — let's be number one in tires and number one in service. Where the folks are coming into our retail centers or our affiliate centers, or wherever they're coming in, we've got a tire for that consumer that's purposefully built with technology back that's going to keep folks safe and do what they're looking for as a customer.”

[27:12] Mark: “My commitment is making sure that we will tackle roadblocks together, that we will have a clear plan, that we will track and hold each other accountable to that. But you know, our mission, my mission, and for all of us — all 68,000 of us, right? Is to get Goodyear super healthy and get us in a position that we are there for the next 126 years. For the next generations of folks to come.”

146: Setting Boundaries With...YOURSELF